Illuminated sign



Sept. 27, 1927.

E. P. MqcNlcol.-

ILLUMINATED SIGN iled 'oen 19. 1925 In/uente@ Silicium,

Patented Sept. `27 1927.

' ELMo r. MAeNIcoL, or MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE. `l

ILLUMINATED SIGN.

Applicationxled .October `19, 1925. Serial No. 63,418.

The invention relates `to illuminated signs, and Yhas for its object to provide a device of this character particularly adapted ior use in vehicles, comprising an elongated trame for the reception of signs and the lower rail of the sign with a longitudinally extending light box, in which electric lamps may be placed and which box reflects light rays upwardly onto the sign, thereby allowing the same to be easily read at night.

A further object is to provide an illuminated sign comprising an elongated rectangular shaped frame formed from channel material, the outer flange of which is provided with longitudinally extending crimps thereby 'forming conduits for electric conductors and with outwardly struck light boxes carried by the lower rail in which electric bulbs may be placed, and electric conductors therefrom which extend longitudinally through the conduits formed by the crimps. The crimp in the bottom rail forms a conduit which is only interrupted by the outwardly struck light boxes.v

lVith the above and other objects in view the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter set forth, shown in the drawing, described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention' may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawing Figure l is a perspective view of the display sign.

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure l.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of another form of the device, showing outwardly struck light boxes carried by the lower rail thereof.

Figure 4 view taken is a vertical transverse sectional on line 4 4 of Figure 3. Figure 5 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on line 55 of Figure 3.

Referring to the drawings and part-icularly to Figures 1 and 2 the numeral l designates an elongated oblong Shaped frame, which is angular in transverse cross section, and disposed within the frame behind the front flange 2 thereof, are signs 3 on which any subject matter may be printed. The signs 3 are separated and held against out-ward bulging 'by flexible -strips 4, which engage the inner sides of the fiangesQ as clearly shown in'y Figure 2. Disposed vwithin the rear side of thel frame l is a'baclrer' 5 which is heldin place, preferably by lugs V6 bent against the rear side thereof, therefore it will be seen that the signs 3 are rigidly held and are maintained flat at all times whereby when light is projected onto the same, shadows will not be formed. v

lt is obvious that at night means must be provided for illuminating the sign sections 3, and to accomplish this result and at the same time prevent downward defiection of light rays, the lower flange 2 is provided with a longitudinally extending reflecting light box 7, the upper side of which4 is open, and disposed within the light box' 7 are electric lamps 8, the light rays from which are reflected upwardly onto the signs 3, and downward projection of lightrays is prevented` therefore it will be Seen that objectionable light rays downwardly will be cut off from the eyes of the occupant of the vehicle, andyat the same time the display cards will be thoroughly illuminated Without any shadows thereon.

Referring to Figures 3 to 5 inclusive wherein another form of device is shown, the construction is substantially the same as shown in Figure l, except the iange 2a has its lower horizontal portion provided with Struck out pockets 9, which form light boxes for the electric lamps 8a, and the flange 2E*v is longitudinally crimped, thereby forming an electrical conductor conduit 10 extending theV full length of the lower portion of the frame, and which is only interrupted at the light boxes 9, and through which conduit l0 a conductor wire l1 extends to the electric lamps 8a, consequently the wire l1. is concealed from view at all times and will not detract from the appearance or' the device.r In this form of the device the light rays are projected upwardly onto the signs 3, and at the same time downward projection of rays fromfthe electric lamps 8a is obvated. As the other construction of the sign is the same as that shown in Figure 1 the Same numerals apply thereto. By striking out the pockets 9 it 1s obvious the frame l may be formed from a single piece of metal and stamped in a Single oper- ZIJ ation, thereby reducing the cost of manufacture to a minimum and allowing the device to be cheaply manufactured and sold.

The inventionhaving been set 4forth what is claimed as new and'useful is 1. The combination with a display sign frame having a lower'rail, ,of light boxes integrally formed with said rail, said rail being crimped longitudinally thereby forming conductor conduits connectingf the chambers of the light boxes.

Y 2. A display sign comprising a rectangularly shaped frame having a lower rail, said frame being angularly shaped in cross sec# tion, thereby forming' ra channel in which s1 ustrenctions are received, the outer flanges ofgsaid frame being longitudinally crimped thereby forming longitudinally extending conductor wire' conduits, the outer iiange of the lower rail of the frame being provided with outwardly light boxes having :their upper sides open. Y

3. AThe combination with the lower rail of a display sign frame, said rail having its inner side provided with a longitudinally disposed conductor channel, of outwardly `struck light boxes carried by said rail and having chambers in connection with the conductor wire channel.

I n witness whereof, I have hereunto yset my hand at Memphis, Tennessee, lthis 30 `day of September, 1925.

ELM() P. MAcNlCOL.. 

